Champions League: Manchester City crowned champions for the first time after beating Inter Milan
Manchester City are European champions! The British club won its first-ever Champions League title on Saturday evening against Inter Milan (1-0), in front of a crowd of over 70,000. The only setback for City was the injury suffered by Belgian playmaker Kevin De Bruyne.
The long-awaited title has finally arrived for Manchester City! The British club won the first Champions League title in their history, beating Inter Milan 1-0.
Two years after their first final, which they lost to Chelsea, the Citizens were overwhelming favourites at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium in the west of Istanbul (Turkey).
However, they were held to a draw by Milan at half-time, and had a few scares when Inter missed two great chances in the second half. It was Rodri who finally delivered his team in the 68th minute.
The Citizens succeeded Real Madrid in the Champions League and completed a hat-trick of league and FA Cup triumphs.
The quest for the Champions League had become both a « dream » and an « obsession » for City, as acknowledged by coach Pep Guardiola, who won it in 2009 and 2011 with Barcelona but has been held in check since arriving in England in 2016.
Inter have won the competition three times: in 1964, 1965 and 2010.
De Bruyne leaves through injury
The English club suffered a huge blow when their Belgian playmaker Kevin De Bruyne went off injured in the 36th minute, apparently suffering a right thigh injury, and was replaced by Englishman Phil Foden.
The Citizens creator first called for treatment, resumed the game, but eventually left his team with his head down.
His attacking partner Erling Haaland comforted him as he left the pitch, before taking his place on the substitutes’ bench after clapping coach Pep Guardiola on the back. De Bruyne suffered a similar mishap in City’s first Champions League final, in 2021 against Chelsea (0-1). He was replaced on the hour mark by Gabriel Jesus.
